Snow, snow go away - don't come back

April 10, 2008

It seems like there's always something to complain about. There's more snow in the forecast for today and Friday. And to that, we want to groan: Come on. We're tired of snow...and we're willing to bet you are too. We know we're probably stating - or restating - the obvious, but still, we think this is one chorus that rings true with most people throughout the area. Somehow Mother Nature has gotten a little confused this year. Either she purposely sent in two lions to South Dakota during March, or the lamb got lost somewhere on its way to work. Now it's April. This should be the time - and in many areas of the country is the time - when people begin getting out their gardening tools and dusting off their patio furniture. Instead, we're keeping the snow shovels and sleds handy for our upcoming spring snow showers. Warm weather plans are being put on hold. For example, spring soccer season games were supposed to start this weekend, but since coaches have been hard-pressed to squeeze in a practice between snow storms and either snow-covered or waterlogged practice fields they have, obviously, been canceled. We know spring, and the warmer, dryer climate that accompany it, is coming - sometime. We believe that soon enough we'll be able to quit complaining about snow, sleet and other winter-related inconveniences. But by the time we're able to do that, guess what? We'll have a whole slew of new annoyances to look forward to. We'll probably go straight from complaining about having to drive exceedingly slowly and carefully on snowy, ice-packed roads to having to slow down and wait as we cautiously wade our way through the many and varied construction sites on roads, highways and interstates as workers try to fix road problems likely caused by our long, tough winters. When we can finally get out and enjoy the inevitably almost-too-warm weather with barbecues and games of baseball, lawn darts and croquet, we'll be assaulted with those pesky and dangerous West Nile virus carrying mosquitoes. We'll complain that we have to mow the grass too often and that our neighbor doesn't mow his grass enough. We'll even likely wish it would cool down - just a little. Yes, we're a fickle bunch...but, still, just now we're tired of snow and we're chomping at the bit to have something else to complain about. And guess what - there's always something.